Hello and welcome. I am Alex Martins, an independent researcher, facilitator, advocate and actor with a passion for combining the technical and the creative to fight for a more equitable global system.

 

That’s right, I’m equally at home buried in a pile of research documents or performing on stage. And I believe that equity should sit at the heart of everything we do. 

 

Having previously kept these disciplines separate, I now believe that infusing deeply technical work with insights from creative disciplines can help us unlock new visions for the future. And I believe that dismantling prevailing systems of neo-colonialism, neo-liberalism, imperialism, and genocidal violence in places like Gaza requires breaking free from old ways of working. Put simply, continuing to work in technocratic, siloed ways will not lead to transformation. 

 

My approach is informed by over 14 years of experience across the international ‘development’ sector (working with grassroots and civil society organisations, consultancies, Global North/Global Minority government agencies, global foundations, and more) and by training and experience in the performing arts, particularly theatre and acting. It is also driven by my experiences of being born in Johannesburg, raised in South Africa and Brazil, and living in the US and UK (where I am currently based). The principles and values that underpin all of my practices stem from a commitment to equity, anti-racism, intersectional feminism and global justice. 

 

I seek to work with people and organisations in the ‘development’ and social justice sectors that are committed to or curious about different ways of working, that see the value of bringing together equitable research approaches with creative practices that take us outside of our comfort zones.